High-School Streets Historic District
Why it's listed
High and School Streets climb a hillside above the Hamilton Woolen Mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The district covers about four acres and contains fourteen one- and two-family houses from the mid-19th century, plus an early-20th century garage. The Hamilton Woolen Company owned the land and began selling house lots in 1844, requiring each buyer to build a house worth at least one thousand dollars. Growth followed the success of delaines cloth, which brought skilled mill workers, supervisors, foremen and merchants to Globe Village. Most houses are Greek Revival, often with a gable front, three-bay side-entry plan, corner pilasters, pedimented gables and entrances with sidelights and transoms. Italianate, Victorian vernacular and Stick style touches also appear. An unusually high share of the houses are brick, including the Kitching, Clemence and Whiting houses. The area is considered the largest and best preserved group of mid-19th century dwellings in the town and retains its original setting and design.
Significance in brief: The district is presented as the largest and best preserved cluster of mid-19th century dwellings in Southbridge. It illustrates new housing types developed for the expanding middle class, on land the Hamilton Woolen Company sold with a $1000 minimum house cost requirement. The houses are primarily Greek Revival, with some Italianate and Victorian vernacular examples.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000600, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | High St. at School St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000600 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1840s-1860s |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, with Italianate and Victorian vernacular examples |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential neighborhood; general condition is described as fair to good. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.07824, -72.04543 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000600.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5754441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.